NEW YOK, May 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Workers at care homes in New York state must be tested for coronavirus twice a week under new rules laid out by governor Andrew Cuomo.
Care facilities that fail to meet requirements intended to stem infections will lose their operating licenses, he said.
The mandate come as New York weighs options for relaxing other lockdown measures.
Parts of the state and neighbouring region could reopen business on May 15.
New York has been the epicentre of the US coronavirus outbreak, with 26,670 deaths and 335,395 cases as of Sunday.
The US has seen a total of 1,327,720 cases and 79,495 deaths from the virus.
Despite a decline in the number of new Covid-19 infections in New York from a peak last month, deaths from the illness continue to mount.
Cuomo has faced particular criticism for high numbers of deaths in the state’s care homes. The US has seen more than 25,000 coronavirus deaths in elderly homes, with more than a fifth – about 5,300 – in New York. Over 100,000 elderly people live in care facilities in New York.
“This virus uses nursing homes. They are ground zero. They are the vulnerable population in the vulnerable location,” he said.
Besides monitoring care home staff, hospitals can no longer discharge patients back to care homes unless they have tested negative. Any of the over 600 care facilities in New York that fail to comply would lose their licenses, Cuomo said.
The announcement comes as New York moves to reopen parts of the state beginning on May 15. To qualify, a region must have at least 14 days of declines in reported infections and be able to run 30 tests for every 1,000 residents.
The governor also reported that the state is investigating 85 cases involving children suffering from an inflammatory illness suspected of being linked to Covid.
Meanwhile, the White House is working to contain coronavirus cases after a valet for President Trump, and Katie Miller, press secretary to Vice-President Mike Pence and the wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller tested positive for the virus.
Dr Anthony Fauci – the public face of the US fight against the coronavirus – is among three members of the White House task force now self-isolating after possible exposure.
Dr Fauci has tested negative.
The White House has sent a memo to staff urging them to work from home, according to the Washington Post. — NNN-AGENCIES
